A look at this week’s Rams opponent, the Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson missed almost all of the 2017 season with a wrist injury, but he led the NFL in all-purpose yards (2,118) and touchdowns (20) in 2016. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Seven new coaches, seven losses. Arizona’s Steve Wilks is, if nothing else, part of the club, and now he will attempt to record his first NFL victory as a heavy underdog against the Rams.

The Cardinals played their first game under Wilks on Sunday and it didn’t go well. Arizona didn’t score points until late in the fourth quarter and suffered a 24-6 home loss to Washington.

Wilks, the former defensive coordinator and assistant head coach in Carolina, took a loss in his first week, just like all of the NFL’s newly hired coaches. Wilks’ challenge might be greater than others, given that the Cardinals are young, rebuilding and perhaps thinking of transitioning to a new quarterback.

Arizona drafted former UCLA standout quarterback Josh Rosen with the No. 10 overall pick in April, but thus far have decided to stick with veteran Sam Bradford, the former Rams quarterback.

The Cardinals’ offense slumbered in the opener, as Bradford passed for just 153 yards and threw an interception.

WHO’S COACHING THE CARDINALS?

Wilks interviewed with the Rams before they hired Sean McVay in January 2017, and after last season, he was considered something of a lock to get hired for his first NFL head coaching job.

A former small-college and Arena Football defensive back, Wilks had a 10-year career as a college coach before he got his first NFL job with the Chicago Bears in 2006. Wilks spent three years there, plus two more with the Chargers, before he got hired by Carolina in 2012. The Cardinals hired Wilks in January to replace Bruce Arians, who retired after last season.

BY THE NUMBERS

$45 million: Potential total of the new contract signed by running back David Johnson last week. Johnson, who missed almost all of last season with a wrist injury, played against Washington but rushed for only 37 yards on nine attempts.

1: Number of third downs converted by the Cardinals’ offense in their season-opening loss to Washington. The Cardinals went 1 for 8 on third down.

10: Number of pass targets for Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald in the opener. Fitzgerald, who turned 35 last month, caught seven passes for 76 yards.

PLAYER TO WATCH

The Rams had major problems with Oakland tight end Jared Cook in their season opener, so this could be the much-awaited breakout chance for Cardinals tight end Ricky Seals-Jones.

Seals-Jones caught three touchdowns as a rookie last season, even though he played in only 10 games. Seals-Jones, listed at 6-foot-5 and 243 pounds, is considered to be an offensive talent, but last Sunday, he had just three catches for 19 yards.

WHAT DID HE SAY?

“I think guys are trying to do too much, instead of just trying to do their job. That’s what we talked about (Tuesday) morning, being one of 11, just trying to go out and do your job and trusting the man beside you.”

— Raiders coach Jon Gruden, on his reaction to facing the Rams and McVay in his first game back